First Half Review with Penn State Looming Ahead
Outside from a few random comment sections on the local fish-wrap websites, I have remained relatively silent through the first seven weeks of the college football season. And most of what I've had to say has been positive; often taking the high road in any engagements (though I've had my moments!). It seems, however, that many other fans and writers have decidedly taken a road more often traveled by Internet trolls. Sure, THE TEAM has provided enough bad material to discuss that would leave a terrible taste in any armchair quarterback's mouth, but is there any reason to really be angry? In my opinion, no.
As I have alluded to, each week's respective game has led to new drama played running wild through the minds of Wolverine Nation. Whether it's controversy at the QB position, air conditioners in visiting locker rooms, another loss to Sparty, or a near choke-job at IU, Harbaugh and company have not been able to get out of the shadows from what many feel is a terrible start to the season. Some rumors even have ol' Jim hightailing it for the NFL, either hinting that the ship is sinking in Ann Arbor or that he has simply worn out his welcome with the school. Some fans have even begun sharpening their pitchforks while demanding more wins against the rivals. In other words, everybody has fucking lost their collective minds! All of this is garbage!
The last time I checked the over/under in Vegas was 8.5 wins for this young, rising Wolverine team. And every reasonable fan knew going into the season that weeks 1, 6, 8, 12, and 13 were going to be the biggest humps to get over. Heading into that week 8 matchup with the Nittany Lions this Saturday, the Wolverines are 1-1 in big games. Yes, that Florida win has lost some luster with the Gators slumping to 3-3, but it's not like they are getting blown out in the SEC this year (they lost their last two games against LSU and Texas A&M by a total of three points). So far, no other team has matched the point total that Michigan put up on them (33). That loss to Sparty hurts but it isn't as bad as everybody thinks. MSU is good. And now this game in Happy Valley will be the biggest challenge yet. Beaver Stadium is one of the toughest places in the North America to be a visiting team. Whatever happens on Saturday will tell us a lot about this year's squad. A loss would all but gash any hopes of competing for a conference championship, but a win could elevate this team right back into the Top Ten. At any rate, the point is that if you were betting on the Wolverines to run the table then you were just being foolish. Not even 'Bama runs the table these days. In fact, there has only been one undefeated team since 2010 - a Jameis Winston led Florida State team that also had an NFL-caliber defense.
This game is too complex. There are too many unpredictables. And this team is way too young. A loss was bound to happen. Why should I be surprised that an underrated and overlooked Sparty came into the Big House with a chip on his shoulder and something to prove? They came to brawl and their back was against the wall. And if there is one thing I know it's that you never really want to mess with a cornered animal. And Sparty fought their way out of it early only to control the game the rest of the way. The Michigan defense was ready too, but the simple fact is that you just don't win many games while giving up five turnovers. It's a plain ol' mathematical inevitability. That's football... and science.
The hardest thing for me to understand though, is that many - who are probably good folks at heart - also view the win over Indiana as a bad thing. Was it ugly? Yes. But did they win? Yes. And were these mistakes, like the ones made against MSU, correctable ones that are very indicative of a young team? Why, yes, I believe they are. Again, it's just basic math:
Youth + Inexperience = (Turnovers + Penalties)²
It really is that simple. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure it out.
Okay, so what is my analysis of the Michigan roster up 'til this point? Overall, I am generally positive, particularly in terms of the youth development. Again, I did not have very high expectations and frankly THE TEAM is right where I was expecting them to be with a 5-1 record. And for the record, I actually had the Indiana trip penciled in as a loss when the season started while I had a W next Sparty. IU looked like a possible "trap" game nudged in their between the Spartans and the Nittany Lions. Anyway, some players are emerging, if a little bit slowly. I like the fact that it doesn't appear THE TEAM is running on all cylinders just yet. There is plenty of time still left to get this together, and the ceiling is high for this roster.
So, how do the coaches get them all clicking together in unison? And how will that look if and when it does happen? It is impossible to say how good this team can be, but the only way they are going to get there is if the offense starts to hit on all cylinders. And that can happen. It just takes a little time. Once the freshmen and sophomores stop acting like freshmen and sophomores then things will improve - experience is the key! I would rather this team peak late instead of early. Honestly, I thought last year's team peaked too early. They were stomping opponents through the first eight games with a wide open play book, and then once November hit it was like everybody had the recipe to beat them. This year's squad is a lot more unpredictable due to the fact that the playbook has been kept relatively locked up. We don't know what they are truly capable of yet, especially once everybody gets on the same page and Drevno can open up the calls.
* asterisk denotes injured player
Offense:
Not too much in the stat sheet but Hill, Poggi, and Mason all have contributed in the run-game. This could be the best group of fullbacks in the country, but we would like to see more production from them. In all honesty, I actually feel that this group has been a bit of a disappointment. They have still been good. Just not as good as expected. Kinda like the rest of the offense. The run-blocking is improving and possibly on the verge of beings scary good. Just in time for Halloween.
Grade: B-
Everybody in this position group is contributing in some way or another. Bunting and Wheatly Jr. are doing a lot of dirty work while McKeon has emerged as a reliable weapon in the passing game. Zach Gentry and Nick Eubanks have flashed big-play potential too. All will continue to get their number's called, but until the QB situation gets settled don't expect too much in the stat sheet yet.
Grade: B-
➤Tarik Black*
This group is young and it has shown. There have been too many dropped balls, including a key drop late in the fourth quarter against Sparty that would've been good for a first down and gotten THE TEAM in position to win the game. Black had been the lone highlight here earlier in the season until he got injured in week 3. Grant Perry has played well but he's not a number one kinda player. He is best when used as a second or third receiving option or a safety valve on passing plays. DPJ has been improving each week and looks comfortable returning kicks while Kekoa Crawford has fallen out of favor in the starting lineup. A true break-out performance from somebody would be nice this week. Expect to see a few new wrinkles and possibly some new faces in the lineup too.
Grade: C-
Grade: B-
Center
Patrick Kugler
➤Cesar Ruiz
Kugler, for the most part, has been solid. He is nothing fancy. He just gets the job done. He has also improved his game in recent weeks. His play will be crucial in attacking the Penn State defense.
Grade: C+
Michael Onwenu
Jon Runyan Jr.
Grade: C
Juwann Bushell-Beatty
Nolan Ulizio
Defense:
Defensive Tackle
Maurice Hurst Jr.
➤Aubrey Soloman
Lawrence Marshall
Ron Johnson
Carl Myers/Garrett Miller
Hurst is a very good player that the Wolverines are lucky to have back for one more season. He is one of the best defenders in the conference and he is still widely regarded as one of the top NFL draft prospects for 2018. He too has done a lot of the dirty work that has carried this defense while contributing another seven tackles for a loss. Soloman has contributed too, allowing Hurst to get some rest. Marshall has also taken advantage of a few opportunities but still lacks the polish to be a real regular.
Grade: A
Nose Tackle
Bryan Mone
Michael Dwumfour
➤James Hudson
➤Phillip Paea
Grade: B+
Mone is a solid talent who has helped a lot against the run, though he has sometimes been left off the field when Don Brown elects to go with more of a 3-3-5 front. He will remain an asset to the team after suffering a plethora of injuries over the last couple years. It's great to have him back at full strength. It's hard not to think that his best football is still ahead of him. Dwumfour has seen more action as a backup too. It is great to see the depth developing.
Weakside Defensive End
Chase Winovich
➤Luiji Vilain
➤Corey Malone-Hatcher
➤Kwity Paye
Winovich has been outstanding. He leads the Big Ten with 5.5 sacks and is also fourth in TFL's (7.5). He also is second on the team with 39 total tackles. Needless to say, he has found a home at defensive end. Nobody has really emerged as the top backup yet and I would think that Gary or Kemp would move over here if needed.
Grade: A
"Viper" (Sam) Linebacker
Kahleke Hudson
Jordan Glasgow
Joshua Uche
➤Drew Singleton
Hudson has at the very least been solid. Honestly, he has been nearly every bit as good as Peppers was at the position. There is still plenty of room for improvement but nobody is really complaining here.
Grade: B+
Mike Linebacker
Devin Bush Jr
Elysse Mbem-Bosse
➤Josh Ross
Bush Jr is unbelievable good. He might be the best inside linebacker in the conference. He makes plays sideline to sideline, using his size and speed to his advantage. He leads the team in tackles (49) and is second in sacks (4.5). Throw in his 5.5 TFLs and 6 pass break-ups and we have what looks to be a superstar in the making. He has even lined up outside at corner! As long as he is healthy nobody else needs to play here.
Grade: A
Will Linebacker
Mike McCray II
Noah Furbush
Rueben Jones
Devin Gil
➤Jordan Anthony
McCray is third on the team in tackles (38). He also has 5.5 TFLs, 2.5 sacks, a PBU, and an FF. Statistically, he is incredible. As far as leadership goes, he has been somewhat of a catalyst for this young defense and he should be in the NFL next year. Furbush has been great when given a chance too. He could start for a lot of other teams.
Grade: A
Safety
Tyree Kinnel
Kinnel is athletic enough to cover most receivers and he is a decent tackler. His versatility gives the team some options. He is sixth on the team in tackles (18) and has 3.5 TFL's, 3 PBU's, two INT's and a sack to boot. Very solid numbers. Nobody really sticks out behind him but there is plenty of potential on the roster to fill in.
Grade: B-
Safety
Josh Metellus
➤J'Marick Woods
➤Brad Hawkins (WR)
I guess if you needed to really find a "weakness" on this defense you start here. Though Metellus has been solid, he has given up a few plays too. I feel I am nitpicking here in order to seem unbiased, because, honestly, he has been totally solid and he could be a star before too long.
Grade: C+
Cornerback
Lavert Hill
➤Ambry Thomas
Drake Harris
Hill has played so well that it hardly seems like Jourdan Lewis ever left. He had two INT's against Indiana (Harbaugh says the penalty on the first one was bogus) and has been a lockdown-type player all year. Thomas has had some growing pains but he has shown enough to get some playing time throughout the season.
Grade: A-
Cornerback
David Long
Brandon Watson
➤Benjamin St-Juste
Watson and Long have both been very good in Michigan's first six games. Both have shown the ability to tackle on the perimeter and defend passes downfield. Neither one has an interception yet, but that doesn't matter as long as they keep holding down their island. They will get tested against Penn State this week.
Grade: B+
Kicker
Quinn Nordin
Kyle Seychel
Ryan Tice
Nordin looks like an NFL kicker. He is one of the best in the country as a redshirt freshman. Currently, he leads the Big Ten in kicking.
Grade: A
Punter
Brad Robbins
Will Hart
Ryan Tice
Quinn Nordin
Statistically speaking, this group has been average in regards to the rest of the conference. Will Hart started the season and did okay. Robbins has stepped in and improved the yards per punt team average. He has also placed some balls deep inside the 20. He is a true freshman. He could be our punter through 2020. And there is depth.
Grade: B-
As I have alluded to, each week's respective game has led to new drama played running wild through the minds of Wolverine Nation. Whether it's controversy at the QB position, air conditioners in visiting locker rooms, another loss to Sparty, or a near choke-job at IU, Harbaugh and company have not been able to get out of the shadows from what many feel is a terrible start to the season. Some rumors even have ol' Jim hightailing it for the NFL, either hinting that the ship is sinking in Ann Arbor or that he has simply worn out his welcome with the school. Some fans have even begun sharpening their pitchforks while demanding more wins against the rivals. In other words, everybody has fucking lost their collective minds! All of this is garbage!
The last time I checked the over/under in Vegas was 8.5 wins for this young, rising Wolverine team. And every reasonable fan knew going into the season that weeks 1, 6, 8, 12, and 13 were going to be the biggest humps to get over. Heading into that week 8 matchup with the Nittany Lions this Saturday, the Wolverines are 1-1 in big games. Yes, that Florida win has lost some luster with the Gators slumping to 3-3, but it's not like they are getting blown out in the SEC this year (they lost their last two games against LSU and Texas A&M by a total of three points). So far, no other team has matched the point total that Michigan put up on them (33). That loss to Sparty hurts but it isn't as bad as everybody thinks. MSU is good. And now this game in Happy Valley will be the biggest challenge yet. Beaver Stadium is one of the toughest places in the North America to be a visiting team. Whatever happens on Saturday will tell us a lot about this year's squad. A loss would all but gash any hopes of competing for a conference championship, but a win could elevate this team right back into the Top Ten. At any rate, the point is that if you were betting on the Wolverines to run the table then you were just being foolish. Not even 'Bama runs the table these days. In fact, there has only been one undefeated team since 2010 - a Jameis Winston led Florida State team that also had an NFL-caliber defense.
This game is too complex. There are too many unpredictables. And this team is way too young. A loss was bound to happen. Why should I be surprised that an underrated and overlooked Sparty came into the Big House with a chip on his shoulder and something to prove? They came to brawl and their back was against the wall. And if there is one thing I know it's that you never really want to mess with a cornered animal. And Sparty fought their way out of it early only to control the game the rest of the way. The Michigan defense was ready too, but the simple fact is that you just don't win many games while giving up five turnovers. It's a plain ol' mathematical inevitability. That's football... and science.
The hardest thing for me to understand though, is that many - who are probably good folks at heart - also view the win over Indiana as a bad thing. Was it ugly? Yes. But did they win? Yes. And were these mistakes, like the ones made against MSU, correctable ones that are very indicative of a young team? Why, yes, I believe they are. Again, it's just basic math:
Youth + Inexperience = (Turnovers + Penalties)²
It really is that simple. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure it out.
Okay, so what is my analysis of the Michigan roster up 'til this point? Overall, I am generally positive, particularly in terms of the youth development. Again, I did not have very high expectations and frankly THE TEAM is right where I was expecting them to be with a 5-1 record. And for the record, I actually had the Indiana trip penciled in as a loss when the season started while I had a W next Sparty. IU looked like a possible "trap" game nudged in their between the Spartans and the Nittany Lions. Anyway, some players are emerging, if a little bit slowly. I like the fact that it doesn't appear THE TEAM is running on all cylinders just yet. There is plenty of time still left to get this together, and the ceiling is high for this roster.
So, how do the coaches get them all clicking together in unison? And how will that look if and when it does happen? It is impossible to say how good this team can be, but the only way they are going to get there is if the offense starts to hit on all cylinders. And that can happen. It just takes a little time. Once the freshmen and sophomores stop acting like freshmen and sophomores then things will improve - experience is the key! I would rather this team peak late instead of early. Honestly, I thought last year's team peaked too early. They were stomping opponents through the first eight games with a wide open play book, and then once November hit it was like everybody had the recipe to beat them. This year's squad is a lot more unpredictable due to the fact that the playbook has been kept relatively locked up. We don't know what they are truly capable of yet, especially once everybody gets on the same page and Drevno can open up the calls.
* asterisk denotes injured player
Offense:
Quarterback
John O'Korn
Brandon Peters
Michael Sessa
Brandon Peters
Michael Sessa
Alex Malzone
Dylan McCaffrey
Wilton Speight*
Speight was all over the place behind a shaky line through the first four games of the season. He was 4-0 as a starter this year though. But he is hurt and likely out for the year anyway, so on we go with O'Korn at the helm. The former Houston Transfer could be the man from here on out if he plays more like he did against Purdue a moth ago, but he has looked terrible over the past two games. Turnovers and stupid penalties have been the biggest area of concern here. Two pick sixes (Speight) handed to Florida and three more INT's (O'Korn) gifted to MSU are unacceptable, as was the atrocious clock management at Indiana. That all has to change if this team wants to compete for anything, as does the 56% completion rate at the QB position. Of course, nobody here is getting a ton of help from the line or the wide receivers either.
Brandon Peters continues to wait in the wings but many fans are getting antsy. They want a a super star to arise right now out of the ashes of what they see as a ruin, and they are willing to sacrifice a young kid in order to move the process along quicker. My gut tells me that we will see Peters at some point this year, maybe as soon as this weekend, but it will take a lot for him to win the starting job any time soon. A total meltdown from O'Korn would expedite the process of course.
Grade: D-
Dylan McCaffrey
Wilton Speight*
Speight was all over the place behind a shaky line through the first four games of the season. He was 4-0 as a starter this year though. But he is hurt and likely out for the year anyway, so on we go with O'Korn at the helm. The former Houston Transfer could be the man from here on out if he plays more like he did against Purdue a moth ago, but he has looked terrible over the past two games. Turnovers and stupid penalties have been the biggest area of concern here. Two pick sixes (Speight) handed to Florida and three more INT's (O'Korn) gifted to MSU are unacceptable, as was the atrocious clock management at Indiana. That all has to change if this team wants to compete for anything, as does the 56% completion rate at the QB position. Of course, nobody here is getting a ton of help from the line or the wide receivers either.
Brandon Peters continues to wait in the wings but many fans are getting antsy. They want a a super star to arise right now out of the ashes of what they see as a ruin, and they are willing to sacrifice a young kid in order to move the process along quicker. My gut tells me that we will see Peters at some point this year, maybe as soon as this weekend, but it will take a lot for him to win the starting job any time soon. A total meltdown from O'Korn would expedite the process of course.
Grade: D-
Running Back
Karan Higdon
Chris Evans
Ty Isaac
Kareem Walker
Tru Wilson
Chris Evans
Ty Isaac
Kareem Walker
Tru Wilson
➤O'Maury Samuels/Kurt Taylor
The running game has clicked enough to wear down some good opponents. Their domination of the Florida defense was particularly impressive, as was the 200 yards Higdon put up on the road at IU. The sophomore from Florida looks like the starter going into Happy Valley. Isaac, Evans, and Walker will all be ready to go too. Evans hasn't broken out like many of us were expecting, but he does have some valuable skills. I would not be surprised to see him being used more as a receiver, possibly in the slot.
The biggest problem for this unit has been the blocking up front. The coaches have experimented with some zone-blocking schemes with mixed results. The line has looked much better when they have employed more of a gap-based approach to run-blocking and Higdon has taken advantage of the opportunities given to him when that occurs. Look for more attempts at that against Penn State. And expect to see a healthy dose of play-action off the run game, along with some misdirection and reverses against an aggressive Nittany Lion defense. Don't be surprised to see a few trick plays as well.
Grade: B
The running game has clicked enough to wear down some good opponents. Their domination of the Florida defense was particularly impressive, as was the 200 yards Higdon put up on the road at IU. The sophomore from Florida looks like the starter going into Happy Valley. Isaac, Evans, and Walker will all be ready to go too. Evans hasn't broken out like many of us were expecting, but he does have some valuable skills. I would not be surprised to see him being used more as a receiver, possibly in the slot.
The biggest problem for this unit has been the blocking up front. The coaches have experimented with some zone-blocking schemes with mixed results. The line has looked much better when they have employed more of a gap-based approach to run-blocking and Higdon has taken advantage of the opportunities given to him when that occurs. Look for more attempts at that against Penn State. And expect to see a healthy dose of play-action off the run game, along with some misdirection and reverses against an aggressive Nittany Lion defense. Don't be surprised to see a few trick plays as well.
Grade: B
Fullback
Kahlid Hill
Henry Poggi*
➤Ben Mason (LB)
➤Ben Mason (LB)
Nick Volk
Michael Hirsch
Not too much in the stat sheet but Hill, Poggi, and Mason all have contributed in the run-game. This could be the best group of fullbacks in the country, but we would like to see more production from them. In all honesty, I actually feel that this group has been a bit of a disappointment. They have still been good. Just not as good as expected. Kinda like the rest of the offense. The run-blocking is improving and possibly on the verge of beings scary good. Just in time for Halloween.
Grade: B-
Tight End
Ian Bunting
Tyrone Wheatley Jr.
Sean McKeon
Zach Gentry (WR)
Tyrone Wheatley Jr.
Sean McKeon
Zach Gentry (WR)
Nick Eubanks
Everybody in this position group is contributing in some way or another. Bunting and Wheatly Jr. are doing a lot of dirty work while McKeon has emerged as a reliable weapon in the passing game. Zach Gentry and Nick Eubanks have flashed big-play potential too. All will continue to get their number's called, but until the QB situation gets settled don't expect too much in the stat sheet yet.
Grade: B-
Wide Receiver
Grant Perry
Kekoa Crawford
➤Donovan Peoples-Jones
Mo' Ways
Eddie McDoom
Kekoa Crawford
➤Donovan Peoples-Jones
Mo' Ways
Eddie McDoom
Nate Shoenle
➤Nico Collins
➤Oliver Martin➤Nico Collins
➤Tarik Black*
This group is young and it has shown. There have been too many dropped balls, including a key drop late in the fourth quarter against Sparty that would've been good for a first down and gotten THE TEAM in position to win the game. Black had been the lone highlight here earlier in the season until he got injured in week 3. Grant Perry has played well but he's not a number one kinda player. He is best when used as a second or third receiving option or a safety valve on passing plays. DPJ has been improving each week and looks comfortable returning kicks while Kekoa Crawford has fallen out of favor in the starting lineup. A true break-out performance from somebody would be nice this week. Expect to see a few new wrinkles and possibly some new faces in the lineup too.
Grade: C-
Left Tackle
Mason Cole
➤Andrew Steuber
Greg Robinson
Grant Newsome (Injured)
Cole is such an asset. He has looked great in the run-game. He has allowed some pressure to get through, but he has held his own against very good competition this year. I am not sure what we would do without him right now.
Grade: B+
Grant Newsome (Injured)
Cole is such an asset. He has looked great in the run-game. He has allowed some pressure to get through, but he has held his own against very good competition this year. I am not sure what we would do without him right now.
Grade: B+
Left Guard
Ben Bredeson
Stephen Spanellis
Andrew Vastardis
➤JaRaymond Hall
Bredeson has had some troubles, particularly in regards to consistency, but he is still developing nicely and could be an All-Conference guard some day. THE TEAM will be depending on him showing up and having a big game this Saturday.
Stephen Spanellis
Andrew Vastardis
➤JaRaymond Hall
Bredeson has had some troubles, particularly in regards to consistency, but he is still developing nicely and could be an All-Conference guard some day. THE TEAM will be depending on him showing up and having a big game this Saturday.
Grade: B-
Center
Patrick Kugler
➤Cesar Ruiz
Kugler, for the most part, has been solid. He is nothing fancy. He just gets the job done. He has also improved his game in recent weeks. His play will be crucial in attacking the Penn State defense.
Grade: C+
RG
Michael Onwenu
Jon Runyan Jr.
➤Joel Honigford
Onwenu has not completely nailed this job down yet, despite have a few very good games. His best performance was in week one against Florida. He has since been occasionally replaced in the lineup over the last month or so, but he bounced back with some nice blocks against IU. Hopefully he can use his size and athleticism to THE TEAM's advantage this weekend.
Onwenu has not completely nailed this job down yet, despite have a few very good games. His best performance was in week one against Florida. He has since been occasionally replaced in the lineup over the last month or so, but he bounced back with some nice blocks against IU. Hopefully he can use his size and athleticism to THE TEAM's advantage this weekend.
Grade: C
RT
Juwann Bushell-Beatty
Nolan Ulizio
➤Chuck Filiaga
Bushell-Beatty looks like the most consistent option here. Ulizio was the starter, and he looked very good back in week one. Hhe will probably still get some playing time, but his lack of consistency against pass rushers was becoming a problem as teams were keying in on the right side of the line. Bushell-Beatty is bigger (6'6"/311 lbs) and more experienced and I feel a little more comfortable with him out there. He had a few key blocks that helped spring Higdon for big yards last week against IU and his emergence could be a key ingredient towards solidifying this line.
Grade: C
Grade: C
Defense:
Strong-side End
Rashan Gary
Carlo Kemp
➤Donovan Jeter
➤Deron Irving-Bey
Gary has been outstanding despite the fact that he has been somewhat living in the shadows of some of his defensive teammates. Truth of the matter though, is the fact that he has been doing a lot of dirty work while occupying blockers so that other guys can make a play. Still, his two sacks, five tackles for a loss, and one forced fumble are solid stats too. Whatever he's doing is working as this is the best defense in the nation, statistically speaking. Kemp has been a solid backup too, getting playing time in every game this season so far.
Grade: A-
Carlo Kemp
➤Donovan Jeter
➤Deron Irving-Bey
Gary has been outstanding despite the fact that he has been somewhat living in the shadows of some of his defensive teammates. Truth of the matter though, is the fact that he has been doing a lot of dirty work while occupying blockers so that other guys can make a play. Still, his two sacks, five tackles for a loss, and one forced fumble are solid stats too. Whatever he's doing is working as this is the best defense in the nation, statistically speaking. Kemp has been a solid backup too, getting playing time in every game this season so far.
Grade: A-
Defensive Tackle
Maurice Hurst Jr.
➤Aubrey Soloman
Lawrence Marshall
Ron Johnson
Carl Myers/Garrett Miller
Hurst is a very good player that the Wolverines are lucky to have back for one more season. He is one of the best defenders in the conference and he is still widely regarded as one of the top NFL draft prospects for 2018. He too has done a lot of the dirty work that has carried this defense while contributing another seven tackles for a loss. Soloman has contributed too, allowing Hurst to get some rest. Marshall has also taken advantage of a few opportunities but still lacks the polish to be a real regular.
Grade: A
Nose Tackle
Bryan Mone
Michael Dwumfour
➤James Hudson
➤Phillip Paea
Grade: B+
Mone is a solid talent who has helped a lot against the run, though he has sometimes been left off the field when Don Brown elects to go with more of a 3-3-5 front. He will remain an asset to the team after suffering a plethora of injuries over the last couple years. It's great to have him back at full strength. It's hard not to think that his best football is still ahead of him. Dwumfour has seen more action as a backup too. It is great to see the depth developing.
Weakside Defensive End
Chase Winovich
➤Luiji Vilain
➤Corey Malone-Hatcher
➤Kwity Paye
Winovich has been outstanding. He leads the Big Ten with 5.5 sacks and is also fourth in TFL's (7.5). He also is second on the team with 39 total tackles. Needless to say, he has found a home at defensive end. Nobody has really emerged as the top backup yet and I would think that Gary or Kemp would move over here if needed.
Grade: A
"Viper" (Sam) Linebacker
Kahleke Hudson
Jordan Glasgow
Joshua Uche
➤Drew Singleton
Hudson has at the very least been solid. Honestly, he has been nearly every bit as good as Peppers was at the position. There is still plenty of room for improvement but nobody is really complaining here.
Grade: B+
Mike Linebacker
Devin Bush Jr
Elysse Mbem-Bosse
➤Josh Ross
Bush Jr is unbelievable good. He might be the best inside linebacker in the conference. He makes plays sideline to sideline, using his size and speed to his advantage. He leads the team in tackles (49) and is second in sacks (4.5). Throw in his 5.5 TFLs and 6 pass break-ups and we have what looks to be a superstar in the making. He has even lined up outside at corner! As long as he is healthy nobody else needs to play here.
Grade: A
Will Linebacker
Mike McCray II
Noah Furbush
Rueben Jones
Devin Gil
➤Jordan Anthony
McCray is third on the team in tackles (38). He also has 5.5 TFLs, 2.5 sacks, a PBU, and an FF. Statistically, he is incredible. As far as leadership goes, he has been somewhat of a catalyst for this young defense and he should be in the NFL next year. Furbush has been great when given a chance too. He could start for a lot of other teams.
Grade: A
Safety
Tyree Kinnel
➤Jaylen Kelly-Powell
Tyler Cochran/Louis Grodman
Tyler Cochran/Louis Grodman
Grade: B-
Safety
Josh Metellus
➤J'Marick Woods
➤Brad Hawkins (WR)
I guess if you needed to really find a "weakness" on this defense you start here. Though Metellus has been solid, he has given up a few plays too. I feel I am nitpicking here in order to seem unbiased, because, honestly, he has been totally solid and he could be a star before too long.
Grade: C+
Cornerback
Lavert Hill
➤Ambry Thomas
Drake Harris
Hill has played so well that it hardly seems like Jourdan Lewis ever left. He had two INT's against Indiana (Harbaugh says the penalty on the first one was bogus) and has been a lockdown-type player all year. Thomas has had some growing pains but he has shown enough to get some playing time throughout the season.
Grade: A-
Cornerback
David Long
Brandon Watson
➤Benjamin St-Juste
Watson and Long have both been very good in Michigan's first six games. Both have shown the ability to tackle on the perimeter and defend passes downfield. Neither one has an interception yet, but that doesn't matter as long as they keep holding down their island. They will get tested against Penn State this week.
Grade: B+
Kicker
Quinn Nordin
Kyle Seychel
Ryan Tice
Nordin looks like an NFL kicker. He is one of the best in the country as a redshirt freshman. Currently, he leads the Big Ten in kicking.
Grade: A
Punter
Brad Robbins
Will Hart
Ryan Tice
Quinn Nordin
Statistically speaking, this group has been average in regards to the rest of the conference. Will Hart started the season and did okay. Robbins has stepped in and improved the yards per punt team average. He has also placed some balls deep inside the 20. He is a true freshman. He could be our punter through 2020. And there is depth.
Grade: B-
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